Deportation of Nigerian causes upset in Mayo

Mayo refugee supporters have expressed dismay at the deportation of a Nigerian who was heavily involved in intercultural initiatives over the past two years in the west.

Olawaseun Agboola (22) - known familiarly as "Seun" or "Sean" - had been living in Mayo since March 2000 and was sent home last week after his appeal for asylum was turned down.

His last few days in Ireland were spent in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, where several compatriots facing deportation recently began a hunger-strike.

Ironically, in a week when anti-racist initiatives are planned throughout the State, Seun may still be seen - on screen in primary schools.

He participated in a video which was funded by Ireland Aid through the National Committee for Development Education (NCDE), the National Anti-Racism Awareness Campaign and Mayo County Council.

Entitled What's It Like Where You Come From?, the video produced and directed by Johnny White, was made by Louisburgh Community Project with pupils from three primary schools. Children in the village, west of Westport, have had little or no opportunity to interact with visitors from developing countries. Seun was one of four Africans - the others from Somalia, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo - who tried to dispel some of the recurring myths.

"Seun contributed enormously to the local community in Mayo in the two years he was there," Mr John Mulloy, community artist, says. "As a major focus of my work in the area of promoting interculturalism and combating racism, to have someone of Seun's calibre was a wonderful resource.

"He was always ready to help, despite having to do everything on a voluntary basis, had a brilliant rapport with people, especially children, and was utterly generous with his skills."

The Nigerian, who had trained as a chef but wanted to study electronics, was among the first batch of asylum-seekers to be sent to the west in early 2000.

He spent a year in a hostel in Cong, before finding his own accommodation in Castlebar. As he was not permitted to work officially, he became involved in voluntary initiatives, according to Ms Geraldine Mitchell of the Louisburgh Community Project.

He helped to design an intercultural "package" for the Westport Arts Festival two years ago, and drummed at the opening night. He ran a drumming workshop for children and adults and performed on the streets for a full five hours.

In September 2000 he also performed at a World Food and Music Day organised by the Westport Refugee Support Group, when he played the seaweed horn. During the Sonas Children's Arts Festival in Louisburgh that year he played the drum in a street show involving 150 young people and led the parade to the local GAA pitch. He took part in a series of drumming sessions for both asylum-seekers and local people in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar.

He played the marimba during last year's Ballina Street Festival and had been booked to perform there this year. He co-wrote and acted in Abisono, a theatre show based on the issue of female genital mutilation, which toured Mayo last September and October.

This was also co-funded by the NCDE, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Mayo County Council.

Last November he assisted in an in-service course for primary school teachers in Castlebar, named "The World in Your Classroom".

When he was arrested late last month and taken to Mountjoy, he had been looking forward to helping out with an Easter camp in the Linenhall in Castlebar, involving children from the asylum-seeking, Traveller and mainstream communities.

"Seun had so much to offer this country, particularly in a rural area like Co Mayo," Ms Mitchell says. "He was a very special person, and we feel a great sense of loss at his deportation."

What's It Like Where You Come From? is available for a small fee from Louisburgh Community Project at 098-66218, fax 098-66412 or e-mail louisburghproject_at_eircom.net